Abstract: The invention comprises a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of photoconductive elements. The photoconductive elements are connected to form combinational logic gates. An optic substrate overlies the semiconductor substrate and directs light representing logic parameters onto the logic gates. The combinational logic gates have complementary inputs and complementary outputs such that combinational logic can be carried out using only AND and OR gates.

Abstract: An information processor receives a residue number as an input and generates a mixed base number correspopnding to the residue number and a redundant residue digit corresponding to the residue number. The information processor includes a plurality of optical arithmetic and logic units (OALUs) arranged in channels and stages. Each digit of the residue number corresponds to a channel. Each channel produces a mixed base digit associated with the residue input number. The stages are serially arranged to successively generate mixed base digits corresponding to the residue number by performing modular multiplication and modular subtraction. Delay circuits are arranged parallel to the plurality of OALUs such that all of the mixed base digits are transmitted from the information processor at the same time. An additional channel of OALUs calculates the redundant residue digit based on the mixed base digits.

Abstract: A wavemeter fabricated using integrated optics technology. A waveguide structure is formed in a substrate, the structure including signal and reference waveguides and means for coupling an optical input signal into both waveguides. Means are provided for varying the optical path length of the signal waveguide with respect to the reference waveguide in response to a control signal. Optical signals passing through the waveguides are coupled to a detection system that produces a feedback signal having a characteristic that is a function of the optical path length difference between the waveguides, and of the wavelength of the optical input signal. A control system receives the feedback signal and produces the control signal such that the feedback signal characteristic is driven towards a predetermined value. The control signal then provides a measure of the wavelength of the optical input signal.

Abstract: An optical latch includes first and second optical switches arranged in series. An input signal is received in the first optical switch and is passed through to the second optical switch. The second optical switch latches-up to this received signal. Then the first optical switch is disabled to isolate the second optical switch from inputs to the first optical switch. Feedback lines from the output of the second optical switch to the input of the second optical switch ensure that the second optical switch remains latched. Switching signals are provided at appropriate timing to ensure correct operation of the optical latch.

Abstract: A residue number system to mixed base number system converter includes one or more digit converters arranged in parallel. Each digit converter includes sources, interconnects, detectors, and threshold detectors. The interconnects are arranged and trigger values of the threshold detectors are selected to accomplish conversion from inputted residue digits to outputted mixed base digits. The system may be implemented using electronic or optical technologies.

Abstract: An optical computing system includes an input device, a converter and an optical computing device. The input device generates first light beams along selected ones of a first plurality of light transmitting paths. Each of the first light beams is representative of a digit of a number. The converter converts the first light beams into second light beams selected among a second plurality of light transmitting paths. Each of the second light beams is representative of the residue of the number modulo a given modulus among a plurality of mutually prime moduli. The converter generates, for each number, an ordered group of second light beams corresponding to an ordered group of residues modulo each of the mutually prime moduli. The optical computing device is coupled to receive the ordered group of second light beams from the converter for performing residue arithmetic operations.

Abstract: A fully optical A/D converter is disclosed in which the difference in light intensity from two outputs of a two-arm interferometer in each channel is detected. The difference in light intensity is varied in accordance with a phase shift in the light passing through one arm of the interferometer. The phase shift is accomplished by the use of a non-linear optical material, the optical properties of which are altered based on the characteristics of an input optical signal to be digitized. Thus, the difference in light intensity corresponds to the magnitude of the input optical signal.

Abstract: A technique for producing an integrated optics waveguide having a large index of refraction difference with respect to an otherwise similar waveguide that does not utilize the invention. A proton exchange region is formed in a lithium niobate substrate, and a titanium waveguide is formed in the substrate within the proton exchange region. The dimensions of the waveguide and proton exchange region are selected such that substantially all of the field of the lowest guided mode of the waveguide is contained within the proton exchange region. By utilizing such a waveguide as one arm of an interferometer formed in the substrate, a large optical path length difference between the interferometer arms may be created.

Abstract: An integrated electro-optic arithmetic/logic apparatus has an optical substrate and an electrically active substrate. Optical waveguides are provided on the surface of the optical; substrate, while active devices such as detectors, threshold circuits and sources are formed in the electrically active substrate. The two substrates are integrated to form a single chip device. Intersecting regions of the optical waveguides are monitored by the detectors and threshold circuits to provide output signals corresponding to a desired arithmetic/logic operation.

Abstract: An optical computing system includes an input device, a converter and an optical computing device. The input device generates first light beams along selected ones of a first plurality of light transmitting paths. Each of the first light beams is representative of a digit of a number. The converter converts the first light beams into second light beams selected among a second plurality of light transmitting paths. Each of the second light beams is representative of the residue of the number modulo a given modulus among a plurality of mutually prime moduli. The converter generates, for each number, an ordered group of second light beams corresponding to an ordered group of residues modulo each of the mutually prime moduli. The optical computing device is coupled to receive the orderd group of second light beams from the converter for performing residue arithmetic operations.

Abstract: A coherence multiplexed optical signal transmission system in which modulation is introduced into the system by modulating the optical carrier or source signal, rather than by modulating the optical path length of an interferometer arm. The system comprises a transmitter and receiver interconnected by an optical bus. The transmitter comprises a plurality of transmitter interferometers, each transmitter interferometer including a modulated optical source. The transmitter interferometers have optical path length differences that are greater than the coherence length of the associated source, and that differ from one another by an amount greater than the source coherence length. The receiver comprises a plurality of receiver interferometers having path length differences matching those of the transmitter interferometers. Multiplexing and demultiplexing means are provided for coupling optical radiation between the bus and the interferometers.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the direction of orientation of pulsed sources includes a detector having two rectangular arrays of thermocouple strips fixed to opposite surfaces of a substrate. Radiation from the source is restricted to be incident on only one of the rectangular arrays. The incident radiation is thermalized quickly by the first array, and a voltage differential between the two rectangular arrays is sensed. The orientation of the source with respect to the optical axis of the apparatus can be calculated from an identification of that portion of the array wherein local thermalization takes place.